Best Drafting Chair Buyer’s Guide

As an architect, you probably spend a lot of time glued to your workstation and desk. But if you do not have a comfortable chair to sit in, all those hours at work could affect your posture, joints and desire to work. With the support of a good drafting chair, you will enjoy your work even more. The following is a basic buying guide and product reviews of some of the best drafting chairs for architects in the market.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Before buying any drafting chair, there are certain things you may want to consider in tandem with your needs as an architect. The following are some factors to think of before locking any product for purchase:

Size

How big is the chair? This is a crucial question as it determines where you can fit it in your office? Will it be a good fit in a smaller work environment? How much space will it occupy? The size of the chair you need will only be determined once you have a sense of the space you want to put the chair in. Therefore, whenever you are out in the market buying a drafting chair, think of the size you require.

Price

This is a factor that needs to be considered before buying anything, not specifically a drafting chair. Setting a budget before you go out to buy something is important as it allows you to set a limit on how much money you will be spending. Of course, if you find something you really like and is the perfect fit for you but is out of your budget, you may either have to adjust your budget or lower your sights. How flexible you are willing to go with your budget is up to you, but setting one is of the utmost importance.

Drafting chairs are available in a variety of price ranges. How long you expect to use the chair, how often you expect to use it and what are the specifications you require from the chair as an architect will help determine your budget.

Features

Different drafting chairs have different features to offer. But you will make a choice depending on which features are useful to you. The following are some of the basic features any good drafting chair should have:

Adjustable Height

Adjustable height is one of the most important features any drafting chair should have. As an architect, you will need to work on your plans and drafts from several different heights and angles. Your chair should not be fixed at a single setting but should be able to adjust its height according to your needs.

Besides, people of varying heights should be able to enjoy the same chair.

Flexible Armrests

While armrests enhance your comfort when you are sitting on the chair and want to relax your arms for a few minutes, but often they simply come in the way of your work. In that situation, you should be able to lift the armrests up and create more space to work. Flexible armrests also allow you to move closer to the desk without the armrests getting in the way.

Swivel

A swivel chair allows you to move around the office, pull out a sketch from a shelf near your desk or ask your coworker to pass on a document or stationery, without needing to get up and waste crucial minutes. If the chair allows 360-degree swivel, that is ideal. You can move around the space easily and work a lot of faster with a chair that allows swivel.

Footrest

If you have been sitting on the chair for too long, your feet will need some rest too or you may pull a muscle when you get up. A decent footrest makes your working experience a lot more comfortable. Ensure that the footrest has a wide diameter to provide proper rest and support to your feet. If the footrest has an adjustable height, that is even better.

Best Drafting Chair for Architects

The following are some of the best drafting chairs you can use as an architect. Most of the products mentioned below tick off all the factors described in the buying guide above.

Poly and Bark Tremaine

This drafting chair has an elegant, vegan upholstery, with fixed, padded armrests. You can adjust the seat and the height of the footrest. The footrest is chrome plated and black powder coated. You will have to assemble this beauty, but the manufacturer’s promise it is not too hard. The following are the features the product has to offer:

Features

• The height of the footrest and seat are adjustable
• The seat can be tilted with ample tension control
• The steel footrest is chrome plated and black powder coated
• There are padded armrests that are fixed, for maximum comfort
• The chair has vegan leather upholstery, so you know no animals were harmed

Pros

• The adjustable footrest and seat height allows you to be comfortable
• The upholstery is made of vegan leather, so it offers the same quality for non-vegans and vegans can also feel ethically responsible for using this chair

Cons

• Some users complained that the chair stopped being sturdy after a few months of use
• Some taller users complained that the footrest did not have a wide enough diameter to be comfortable

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Harwick

This chair is comfortable for everyday use. The duragrid, black mesh seat and back keep the chair comfortable and cool even on a hot day. There is also built-in lumbar support for those experiencing lower back pain or are vulnerable to lower back pain. The armrests flip up so you can move the chair closer to your desk if required. The following are some of the features the product has to offer:

Features

• The chair supports up to 325 lbs
• The dimensions of the back are 17.5” (W) x 21” (H)
• There is built-in lumbar support for those with lower back pain
• The seat and back have a duragrid mesh construction that keeps the chair cool and comfortable
• The flip-up armrests are in place to allow the chair to move closer to the desk. The arms to seat measurement is 6.5 inches
• The dimensions of the seat are 19” (W) x 19.5” (D). The seat height is 24”-31” (H),  measured from the floor right to the top of the seat

Pros

• The mesh seat and back are a great addition for extra comfort
• There is built-in lumbar support for those with lower back pain
• The flip-up armrests make it convenient to pull the chair closer to the desk

Cons

• The chair can feel a little pricey for what it has to offer
• Some customers complained that the lumbar support caused their back to arch unnaturally

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

HON

The leather seats of this task stool are smooth and have a sharp, geometric design. The seat has an adjustable height, as does the footrest. The contoured seat and back offer good support for your posture. The five-star base has durable wheels that allow you to move around with comfort. The following are the features the product has to offer:

Features

• HON offers a full lifetime warranty
• The pliable, soft-thread leather seats have a sharp-looking, yet comfortable design
• The task chair has an extended height adjustment option and an adjustable footrest
• The chair comes without armrests, but that means you can pull yourself closer to your desk without any hindrance
• The five-star base and durable wheels allow you to maneuver and slide over to another spot in the office, without needing to get up

Pros

• The manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty
• The geometric, contoured and proportionate design of the seat and back allow you to sink into the chair in comfort

Cons

• While the chair is good to use it can get tricky to clean
• After multiple uses, the chair does not stay at the required height level and sinks to the lowest setting

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

LexMod Drafting Stool

This tall chair is the perfect fit with a drafting table. It has flip-up arms so you can pull the chair closer to the desk if required. There is a hydraulic seat adjustment feature that works well too. There is a lower back lumbar support and a padded mesh seat that keeps your posture correct. The seat tilt has a tension control knob, so you are protected even when you are leaning back in the chair. The following are some of the features available in the product:

Features

• The chair supports up to 330 lbs
• The base has a full, 360-degree swivel ability
• The seat tilt has an effective tension-control knob
• The hydraulic seat adjustment feature ranges from 22.5”-30” from the ground
• The chair has a lower back lumbar support and a padded waterfall mesh seat for best comfort

Pros

• The flip-up arms offer you more options for comfortable seating positions
• The breathable mesh back allows the chair to offer maximum comfort, even in hot and humid weather

Cons

• Some users complained that the footrest is too small
• Some users complained that the hydraulic seat adjustment would keep sinking gradually until you are at the lowest height

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Flash Furniture

This contemporary draft stool has a heavy-duty melrose nylon base. The transparent, black mesh seat and back allow ventilation and offer comfort, no matter what the weather. There is built-in lumbar support for those who have trouble with posture and lower back pain. The 360-degree swivel ability also has a 2-to-1 locking Synchro tilt adjustment, so you know your safety has also been considered. The following are some of the features the product has to offer:

Features

• The back has built-in lumbar support
• The degree of the swivel is 360 degrees
• There is a 2-to-1 Synchro tilt adjustment
• The back and seat have a transparent black, mesh construction for ventilation
• The mid-back, contemporary draft stool has a heavy-duty, melrose nylon base
• The minimum seat height is 24” and the maximum seat height is 32”; the fixed arm height from the seat is 6.5”; the minimum arm height from the floor is 31”; and the maximum arm height from the floor is 38”

Pros

• The heavy-duty melrose nylon base makes the chair extremely sturdy
• The seat has a comfortable, adjustable range so you get a lot of options for comfortable positions
• The 360-degree swivel base also has a 2-to-1 locking Synchro tilt adjustment so the chair does not go out of control when you are swinging

Cons

• The footrest can feel a little small
• Some customers felt that the front bar in the mesh seat digs into the skin and can get uncomfortable

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Lorell

The chair has a durable shellback and seat base that provides constant support to your posture. The back is adjustable so you can set the position to your needs. The height of the chrome foot ring is also adjustable. The following are some of the features the product has to offer:

Features

• The back is adjustable and offers support when and where you need it
• The foot ring is chrome plated and also offers a height adjustable option
• The durable shellback and seat base offer the chair a clean design and the user, comfort

Pros

• Several customers reported that the chair was easy to assemble
• The durable shellback and seat base gives you all-around comfort
• The adjustable back takes care of your comfort needs while you are working

Cons

• It is only good for high table use
• Some Amazon customers complained that footrest clamp would not stay in place

Last update on 2024-01-11 / As an Amazon Associate, Archareer earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Final Thoughts

All the products mentioned above are some of the best drafting chairs available in the market. No architectural project is complete without having a decent or comfortable working environment. If you do not feel comfortable, the discomfort may start showing in your work too. Consider any of these drafting chairs and work in complete comfort.